Missionaries serve community while battling stereotypes

It's around 12:30 p.m., March 4, and someone finally answers their door.

"Guys, I'm sorry, but I don't have time to talk," the elderly gentleman politely tells the two young men standing on his front porch.

The two hand him a card, and wish him well. "God bless," the man says to them before he closes the door to his Jericho Road, Carroll Twp., home.

The two men resume their work. They're not salesmen. They're missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons.

"I wish more people would answer the door," Elder Yates tells his colleague, Elder Mitchell.

The two declined to give their first names, asking to be identified only as "Elder.'

Yates and Mitchell, both 20, aren't from Perry County. They're not even from Pennsylvania. Yates grew up in Arizona, while Mitchell is from Utah. For the next six months, however, the two are making New Bloomfield their home.

They know the stereotypes about their religion. They've heard them all. They've been called polygamists and accused of being cultists. They often are seen as a nuisance by people they try to visit.

"We try not to be persistent; we don't want to be a bother," Yates said. "In most cases, if people are home, they'll come to the door in two rings.'

They've heard stories of missionaries being spat on, chased off by dogs and angry residents, robbed at gunpoint.

It doesn't dissuade Yates and Mitchell from their work. They're on, as Elwood Blues once said, "a mission from God.'

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The Latter-day Saints movement dates to the 1800s, after founder Joseph Smith claimed to have a vision from Jesus Christ.

The church differs from other Christian denominations, believing God still talks to prophets today. Another difference is it believes in another testament of Jesus Christ called the "Book of Mormon," but they also believe in the Bible.

Mormons comprise the fourth-largest religious denomination in the United States, with more than 13 million members. In Perry County, there is only one Latter-day Saints church, on Cold Storage Road, New Bloomfield, with approximately 350 members.

Yates and Mitchell call on members who have not attended church in a while or who have been ill. One of those members is Christine Godfriaux of Carroll Twp., who speaks with the two about where she's been.

The conversation takes place with Godfriaux on the front porch. No other male is present at the residence, and as such, Yates and Mitchell are not allowed to enter her home.

She tells them about difficulties, which have kept her from attending church. They speak about Godfriaux's family and home life.

After a 15-minute conversation, Yates and Mitchell leave, ready for a lunch break.

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Aside from the Godfriaux and the Jericho Road resident, no one answered their door during the first two hours.

While Yates wishes more people were home, he's not discouraged. If there's no answer, a card is left in the door which includes contact information.

The process of going door to door is called "tracting.' This is one of the gripes some might have with Latter-day Saints. Yates and Mitchell said they try their best not to pester people. They give two rings and a knock and if no one answers, they move on.

They do run into unfriendly folks, especially now with the economic situation. But, they said they never get discouraged about their work.

"A lot of people are just angry with God and take it out on us," Yates said. "We're not out here to push this on anybody, we're just sharing it with people.'

One of the most frequent questions they answer relates to polygamy, which the church disavowed in 1890. Yates and Mitchell said it's the most frequent, incorrect stereotype many have about Mormonism.

"We just try to educate and tell them the truth. All we can do is talk to them," Mitchell said. "Some people are just going to continue to believe it. But, when you show your love for them, they'll talk to you.'

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The process for becoming a missionary is akin to entering the military. There's a lot of paperwork to fill out. After interviews, the state president and prophets pray to decide where the missionary should be sent.

In order to become a missionary, Mitchell and Yates had to raise around $10,000 to see them through their two-year work. Each lives on $130 a month.

The tight budget isn't a big deal for Mitchell. "I don't mind it. I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.'

Days begin at 6:30 a.m. when missionaries wake up. After a half hour of exercise, breakfast and a shower, missionaries study the Bible and the Book of Mormon and then come together until 10 a.m., when they begin tracting and perform service work.

This is the rest of the day, aside from two breaks from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. for lunch and dinner. The work continues until 9 p.m., and it's lights out by 10:30. The two are staying at a small, one-bedroom apartment on W. High Street, New Bloomfield.

From Tuesday through Sunday, this is what Mitchell and Yates do. Monday is the only "day off," when laundry and personal chores are taken care of, and maybe a trip to a bowling alley with other missionaries.

There's no time for watching television or surfing the Internet. The two try to e-mail their families and friends from the Bloomfield Library on a regular basis, but the contact comes only from their end. They are allowed to call home twice a year — Christmas and Mother's Day.

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The two travel to the Carroll Twp. home of Marie Blazina, a Mormon who feeds missionaries in her ward. After an hour lunch and conversation with Blazina, the two fill potholes on the dirt road on which Blazina and her family live.

The two are not allowed to accept donations for service work. Mitchell said people have offered to tip them, but church rules forbid accepting donations.

"Most people are understanding about it," Mitchell said.

Service work isn't performed only for members of the church. Blazina said the two spent several hours during a recent snowstorm helping county residents shovel out walks and driveways.

"They had a lot of blisters," Blazina said. "But, they're young men and they like that kind of work.'

During the hour-long service work, which involves digging dirt, Yates and Mitchell never show distaste for the work, but rather a positive demeanor, even though they're working in suits.

"Maybe we can come back another time and do it again," Yates tells Blazina about filling the potholes.

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Yates and Mitchell are two of 153,000 missionaries serving currently. The desire to serve runs in their families. Both come from large homes and their parents and siblings have served as missionaries.

Prior to becoming a missionary, Yates was working several jobs, including construction. He said the desire to serve came from a conversation with God. "I asked him if this is what he wanted me to do, and he said yes.'

Mitchell is in his 19th month as a missionary. Yates is his eighth partner. Mitchell will return home to Utah this summer.

It's the first time either have been in Perry County. Both previously served in other areas of the state, including near Pittsburgh.

They said Perry County is the most rural area they've been to. "I'm still learning my way around," Mitchell said.

Yates will end his missionary work next year. He and Mitchell said the work they've performed has renewed their faith in God.

"Just watching people come into the fold of the heavenly father and Jesus Christ ... that's a great feeling," Mitchell said.

"I've seen some miracles with people who aren't really happy," Yates said. "We teach them and help them out, and they change their lives. That's probably the greatest feeling you could feel.'